Chapter Five- Good Realization

A gong sounded and Shiro saw the others get up and leave, one looking back at him. "It is the moon gong," he said. "It tells us that it is time to head out and feed."

Feed, Shiro thought as he followed the werewolf out of the room. Is that the word they use for murder? He found the pack crowded by the front door and some on the dungeon stairs opposite the door. Iverson beamed at them as he stood next to the door. "It is time again," he said. "Hunt and feed to your heart's content, my pack." He pulled the door open and the people flowed out the door and headed for the city. Iverson was about to follow, but stopped as he noticed two werewolves left instead of one. "Shiro? Aren't you coming?"

"If it is all right with you, alpha, I'd like to stay here tonight."

"You would rather be locked up and wait for the others to be bitten before feeding instead of roaming free?"

"I may be more savage if I'm locked up and kept from feeding."

Iverson stroked his chin as he considered this. "An interesting notion. Very well. Go down and get to a cell."

"Thank you, alpha." Shiro went downstairs and Iverson whispered, "Keep an eye on him, Griffin. He lacked our savagery last night and I know you can control your wolf mind to some degree."

"Yes, alpha." James watched Iverson leave before gathering the servants. Three more humans had been marked to be bitten with six to be food. Nine turned in two nights. Not bad. He selected six different servants and let them suit up before leading them down. He saw Shiro already locked up and nodded to him before launching into what he called his Turning Speech.

Shiro half-listened to James' speech as he shifted on his feet. He felt restless and his wolf mindset was getting ready to take over. His eyes drifted to the active monitor and then James and he howled and then growled as they shifted to wolf form. Shiro rammed his door, attempting to escape while James turned the three humans. Shiro had backed up to ram the door again when it swung open. He hesitated at seeing the door open before his hunger took over and he rushed out to choose a target. He knocked one down and, as he looked at the helpless human, his human mind surfaced and fairly screamed, You can't do this! Werewolf or not, it's still murder!

He leaped off the man, found some remains, and ate them before slinking into his cell. He curled up in it and whined softly. "I…don't want…to kill," he said, teeth clicking. He lifted his head and a paw went to his muzzle. I talked! And my mind is clear. His tail wagged with this realization. I am a good werewolf! His tail stilled as another thought came to him. Iverson won't like that, but there's nothing he can do about it. He closed his eyes and went to sleep amidst the growls and snarls of the evil werewolves.

Iverson scowled as he watched last night's dungeon footage. Shiro didn't kill! He had a human pinned down, but he didn't kill him! Instead he got off him and ate some remains like a common jackal! He will be taught to be evil. I will not have a good werewolf in my pack! He got up and stormed down to the dungeon. He was greeted respectively by the newly-turned ones, but he glared at Shiro who stood in his cell.

"Griffin, take the new ones to the classroom. I'll be there shortly." He stalked over to Shiro and waited until they were alone before saying, "You didn't kill last night. I saw the video just now."

"Yes, alpha. I couldn't bring myself to do it."

"This isn't a matter of doing it. Our very nature on the full moon is to kill and feed. We have no moral issues. We are simply wolves."

"I'm not denying that, but it would seem that I'm different."

Iverson backed out with a grim smile. "Yes, you are and I will rectify that." He grabbed the cell door, closed it, and locked it.

Shiro gripped the bars and gaped at Iverson. "Alpha…"

"Don't 'alpha' me," Iverson snapped. "I will not have a good werewolf in my pack! If you want to return to your home tomorrow, you will kill tonight. A human will be brought to you before nightfall. Until then, think about being evil or you'll be imprisoned until you do." Iverson left the dungeon to tell James to use the auxiliary dungeon for any turns tonight and then he headed off to orientation.

Shiro sat in his cell and craned his neck for security cameras. With his sharp eyesight, he was able to spy the small cameras high up in the corners, the power lights off. The cameras are off. I'll need to keep an eye on it and hopefully I can speak to the one I must kill without anyone spying on us. Shiro knew what he had to do, as repulsive as it was: He had to kill his victim and act like an evil werewolf in order to return to Adam. I only hope the human will by sympathetic to my situation, but he or she most likely won't. I'd rather kill someone who's agreeable to it, but I'll likely have to force myself to chase and kill in true wolf fashion instead of acting like it.

It was late afternoon when he heard two sets of footsteps. He looked up to see James with a man who had shabby clothes and unkempt hair. James unlocked Shiro's door and shoved the man inside. "You know what you have to do tonight, so I suggest you do so." James left the dungeon and Shiro heard the door lock.

He looked up at the cameras and saw them still off before looking at the man. "What's your name?" he asked.

"Kenny," he answered. "And you?"

"I'm Shiro, a werewolf."

"Werewolf?" Kenny gasped.

"Believe me, I didn't want to be turned."

"I would as I'm homeless." He looked around. "It would be worth it just to have a home."

"I fear that is not your fate. I am a good werewolf and my alpha does not like that. In order to be free to see my fiancée, I must kill and act like an evil one or I will be imprisoned until I do."

"You have a loved one waiting for you?"

"I doubt he knows what happened to me, though he may have filed a missing person report by now."

"So, I'm destined to die. I'm your victim, aren't I?"

"I'm afraid so. Understand, I'd rather not. I like being in control of myself instead of thinking as a simple, vicious wolf. I also like being able to talk instead of speaking like a wolf."

"Shiro, you deserve to be free and be with your fiancée. I have no home, no loved ones, and no family. I would gladly give up my life to help someone return to his own home and loved ones."

Shiro stared at him. "You…would?" he asked.

Kenny nodded. "It's clear that you're expected to kill me. I can't stop that so do what you're expected to do."

"I'm expected to kill and eat you. I'm also expected to be evil. I plan to pretend I'm evil in order to be free."

"Then do that."

"All right, I will. And we'll both need to put on a convincing act to fool my alpha." He pointed at the cameras. "Those will turn on and record our every move."

Kenny rose and headed out of the cell. "Then, I should place myself away from you so they won't think we talked."

"Good thinking and thank you for your help," Shiro said and Kenny nodded in response.